Information if you want to rent a car in Houston
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Distance from Houston city centre |
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| 15 km | ||
| 24 km | ||
| 26 km | ||
| 32 km | ||
Rent a car in Houston
Where to rent a car in Houston
Hello, Houston! This city has it all, from a typically Texan feel with its pick-up trucks and cowboy hat-wearing locals to a sleek and cultural downtown core fit for any metropolis. Having a car rental in Houston will definitely make your vacation a whole lot easier. When you flight to Houston lands, pick one up at George Bush International Airport (IAH) in the arrival’s lounge. You’ll find at least a dozen brands in the terminal including Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Budget and Alamo. E-Z Rent-A-Car is located outside the terminal but you can catch a shuttle van there.
It’s essential to use a car search engine, like liligo.com, to compare the offers before you go. While it’s typically cheaper to get a rental car at the airport, you may also find great deals for cars in the city too. All major brands have representatives in the downtown area, so it won’t be hard finding what you’re looking for.
Driving in Houston: what you need to know
Driving in Houston is just like driving in any other big city. Most of the city’s sights are quite close to each other so it’s easy to walk but having a rental car is essential if you want to get out of the downtown area. Parking downtown is very easy here, thanks to the numerous vending machines that sell timed parking tickets. Luckily these aren’t site specific so you can use them again. There are lots of parking lots available, costing upwards of $20 per day.
Outside the downtown area, it’s even easier. Parking is usually free and valet parking is very cheap, allowing you to receive VIP treatment for a fraction of the cost. Plus, imagine the extra shopping time you’ll gain by saving time on parking. Perfect!
Road trips from Houston: what to see and do
Galveston
Galveston Island is just off the Texas Gulf Coast and is a super popular day trip from Houston. Lots of the city’s high-earning locals also have beach houses here and it’s a great spot to hit the beach and enjoy some of Texas’ great year-round weather. Once you’ve had enough sun, wander over to the gorgeous Moody Gardens or taste some fine wines at the Haak Vineyards and Winery. Cheers!
Surfside
Surfside Beach is a bit further away than Galveston but it tends to be far less crowded. It’s a 1-hour drive from Houston, so it makes a great day trip. There is free parking all the way along the coast, so you don’t have to worry about that! Pack a picnic and enjoy a good old-fashioned Texas barbecue on the beach using the public grills! Just don’t forget to pick up some charcoal on your way here. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to surf, this is the spot. Rent a board for the day and hit the waves!
Kemah
While Houston is a great jumping off point for Texas’ gorgeous coastline, just as many visitors arrive in Houston to visit the world-famous Johnston Space Center and the Space Center Houston. Both places offer in-depth tours of their facilities and have lots of simulators to try out. It’s like boot camp for wannabe astronauts and is by far one of the coolest things to do while on vacation in Houston.
